Mercury and Autism

The autism epidemic that began in the late 1980’s is likely due primarily to toxins adversely affecting fetus and infants during development

Mercury is likely a major contributor to this toxin-induced autism, whether the source of the mercury is from vaccines or environmental mercury exposure

Other toxins, whether from vaccines or environmental exposure, can also contribute to toxin-induced autism.

When mercury is present in the body either from recent acute exposure or long-term chronic exposure, it can exponentially increase the adverse affect of other toxins 10-fold to 100-fold in a process known as “synergistic toxicity.”

Autism is closely correlated with a lessened ability to excrete toxins.

There is much evidence that autism is triggered by a toxic overload which adversely affects organs throughout the body, including the brain. Research indicates that several toxins and biological agents could be contributing to a toxic overload causing autism, including but not limited to:

ethylmercury in vaccines

methylmercury and other forms of mercury in the environment

organic pesticides

bisphenol A in plastics

aluminum hydroxide (used in vaccines to stimulate an immune response)

certain viruses

SafeMinds has focused much of its efforts on mercury due to it likely having the largest contribution to autism amongst the toxins. Research shows that mercury is strongly linked to immune system dysfunction and most of the other symptoms associated with autism. Mercury has also been shown to have synergistic toxicity with many other toxins (It is important to understand synergistic toxicity — click here for further details: Synergistic Toxicity). SafeMinds funds research to gain more knowledge on the role of mercury poisoning in autism so that treatments can be improved and preventative steps taken. Much of the human exposure to mercury can be avoided or reduced, thus SafeMinds advocates for minimizing mercury exposure wherever possible.

SafeMinds has also focused on the link between autism and vaccines. There is substantial evidence that in a substantial portion of autism cases, vaccines are the final trigger to toxic overload. SafeMinds has long maintained that the high-mercury vaccines has contributed to autism, and there is growing evidence that the low-mercury and no-mercury vaccines may also contribute to a synergistic toxicity leading to autism.

For more information on mercury and autism, please continue reading the
“Environmental Mercury”, “Key Lessons Learned”, “Mercury Poisoning and
Autism”, “Vaccines and Autism”, and “FAQ” sub-sections of this website.